blackmail scandal inside the

vatican. this is beginning to sound like a dan brown novel. turns out a dossier does exist. the findings of an internal investigation. but only the pope knows what it's in it. benedict met privately with the three elderly investigators. the italian press calls them the 007 cardinals. >> the cardinals that did the investigation in the corruption inside the vatican are known to know everything. so if they say i don't think this candidate is the best idea at this point, that will be taken very seriously. >> reporter: the pope issued new rules that could fast track this election but ultimately the timing will be up to the cardinal. david wright, abc news, rome. >> there's not a whole lot of time that we're talking here. we've got to get the conclave going and got to get people going so that -- we've got to get a new pope in time for the most sacred days that are headed our way in the catholic church. >> the easter holiday and all that.

with the resignation and then with the secret report, i know people get wrapped up in the ceremony and where the church is going to go. but let's never forget these folks are still very human. there's definitely politics behind the scenes. just because you have this title or that title, your still fallible and politics and human weakness plays a role into everything, including the church. you're seeing that play out. not just with the sexual abuse case but how this pope thing is evolving, as well. >> and abc news is going to have live coverage of the pope's resignation thursday morning. so you want to tune in for that. after more than a century, the u.s. census bureau decided to drop the word "negro" on forms and surveys. starting next year, it will no longer appear as an option for race. many americans view the word as

offensive and outdated. a couple of the san francisco bay area who vanished last month during a biking trip in peru may now be in ecuador. garrett hand and his girlfriend, jamie, boarded a boat to amazon in ecuadoecuador. they had been speaking with friends and family on skype, but all contact stopped january 25th. >> just hanging in there. you know, you don't know what you don't know. and so we're by faith holding on that they're okay. >> the bike tour was supposed to last six months. relatives say they became concerned when the u.s. embassy posted a warning to u.s. citizens about kidnappings. >> there's plenty of cleaning up in parts of texas and oklahoma after record snowfall in those states. the snow was blown around by hurricane force winds across the region yesterday. 20 inches of snow fell on amarillo. at least two deaths are being blamed on the storm. in austin, texas, cameras

were rolling as the wall of a three-story building crumbled to the ground. crews said the strong winds played a roll in that destruction. no one was hurt and they have no idea when the building will be opened again. now moving on to today's forecast. that storm system moves into the midwest bringing snow to chicago and detroit by tonight. rain in the northeast later on in the day. some icing across appalachia. snow in the rockies. showers in the northwest and warming up in the southwest. >> seasonal temperatures in tupper midwest and northeast. miami, 85 degrees. burrr. and honolulu sitting pretty at 81. >> oh, man. lucky them. a home last man down on his luck for years is getting a great new start in life just for being honest. >> that's why this is our favorite story of the day. kansas city panhandler billy ray harris found a pricey ring in

his donation cup. turned out sarah darling forgot her ring walls in her purse. ray immediately returned the ring. there are good people in the world. >> as a thank you, darling's fiance set up a website seeking donations for ray, and so far, get this, total strangers have donated more than $140,000. see, good deeds sometimes do get rewarded. he found a $100,000 ring and didn't run off to the pawnshop. gave it right back. and now has gotten more tharing. there's a lesson in that. >> god smiles on people like that. good for you. good for everybody involved. i can't imagine looking an engagement ring. coming up next, exposing x rated secrets in a popular tourist destination. and the flirtation behind the stage at the oscars

involving veteran jack nicholson and the youthful and wonderful jennifer lawrence. you're watching "world news now." [♪...] >> i've been training all year for the big race in chicago, but i can only afford one trip. and i just found out my best friend is getting married in l.a. there's no way i'm missing that. then i heard about hotwire and i realized i could actually afford both trips. see, when really nice hotels have unsold rooms, they use hotwire to fill them. so i got my four-star hotels for half-price! >> men: ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e ♪ hotwire.com >> announcer: save big on car rentals too, from $12.95 a day. save them.

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an abc news investigation has discovered some disturbing information about a popular destination for american tourists. >> turns out many tourists visiting the philippines are looking for a lot more than just some r&r. abc's alex marquardt reports. >> reporter: we traveled to the

subic bay in the western philippines. a hot spot for sex tourism. the american ambassador estimated that 40% of american men here come for sex. to investigate the reports of rampant underage prostitution, producer alex waterfield and i go undercover with hidden cameras. we've been told about this man, arthur benjamin, a 49-year-old texan who's lived here for 25 years. he's suspected or pimping out underage girls from his bar. over coffee, he tells us how he met his 16-year-old girlfriend. >> she needed somebody to take care of her. you know what i want. >> reporter: and how, with the help of his bar manager, lucy, underage girls have worked in his bar. one of them is 16-year-old princess, who has given us permission to show her face. little did benjamin know, filipino and american authorities were planning a raid on his bar.

that's it. >> get out, go! >> reporter: benjamin is stunned. that's when we reveal ourselves to him. we're with abc news. you told us that you have had underage sex with multiple girls. >> i've never had underage girls and i do not have sex with underage girls. >> reporter: then we tell him we have it on hidden camera. does that change anything? >> not at all. >> reporter: he was arrested. activists say authorities aren't doing enough, but every arrest is a blow against this dark world. alex marquardt, abc news, subic bay in the philippines. >> that is an uphill battle. >> they simply say there's not much being done because there's not money to fight it. i don't think is shocked by the idea that there is an extremely active and depressing sex industry trade overseas, where anything goes that would never fly over here legally. but certainly that guy, i mean, when you're busted, you're kind

of busted. so 16, i think i saw braces. these are young girls who get wrapped up in that world, primarily for money to support the family. it's very sad that obviously they're being that exploited. >> another problem is you're never going to be able to stop something where these girls are willingly introducing themselves into it. these girls need the money. they're not going to stop doing it. if it means a little extra bit of cash for their cash-strapped families. >> it's surveyal. coming up, remembering some eerie and unforgettable. >> that's next from the abc news vault.

it was 20 years ago today

that a truck bomb ripped through new york's world trade center, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000. >> the event was an eerie precursor to the 9/11 attack. and now, from our abc news vault, our coverage from february 26th, 1993. >> from abc, this is "world news tonight with peter jennings." >> authorities are trying to determine what caused the explosion at the world trade center and investigators are looking into the possibility, and it is only a possibility, that it was a bomb. the scene earlier, more than 100,000 people either working in the building or visiting it on any given day, having to grope their way down and out. at least five people were killed and nearly 500 injured. our first full report is from abc's mort dean. >> reporter: the underground explosion was so powerful, it rocked even the top floors of one of the twin towers.

>> it was a huge explosion that rocked the building. >> reporter: down darkened stairwells choked with soot and smoke, thousands groped their way to safety. it was a frightening and exhausting experience. >> as we went down, the smoke got thicker and thicker. >> reporter: those that feared they would not make it down, instead escaped to the stop, 110 stories above lower manhattan. some evacuated by helicopter. many were trapped in elevators or in their offices. and some punched holes through the buildings's glass to gulp fresh air or wave sos signals. the glass beads hit the street like deadly hail. the roof under the building collapsed. the explosion occurred underground, apparently in a multistoried parking garage. we are bun floor below street level in what was a parking

garage. this is an example of the tremendous force of the explosion. cars just ripped apart. three floors have collapsed. federal officials have been called in to investigate the possibility that it was a bomb that caused the explosion. morton dean, abc news, new york. >> amazing how much of that is reminis reminis reminiscent of 9/11. >> you see that and wonder how is it that we didn't have more safety precautions or escaping from the buildings wasn't a priority so if it happened again, there would be less loss of life. instead we saw what happened. >> people point to that and say that was the smoke signal that we should have been better prepared for what came years later. the ringleader of that attack is serving a life sentence, plus 240 years behind bars. and he was actually at the time was funded by his uncle khalid

sheikh muhammad, he's the al qaeda member accused of being one of the 9/11 ringleaders. >> it all ties into each other. >> still chilling. we'll be back. like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. lunesta should not be taken together with alcohol. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations, or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions such as tongue or throat swelling occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness, and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as fifteen dollars at lunesta.com.

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♪ some of the best moments of sunday night's oscars came after the award show. >> i love this. like this slightly bizarre but completely endearing exchange between best actress jennifer lawrence and jack nicholson during an interview with george stephanopoulos. >> it was just shocking. that's the first time i ever felt like shock. >> you've got a fan here. >> but then came jack they collison. >> such a beautiful outfit. >> thank you. >> and he kept going. >> thank you. loved all your movies.

oh, my god. >> and he comes back with those trademark shades. >> is he still here? >> i'll be waiting. >> sorry. that was jack nicholson. >> i noticed that. >> that was awesome. not only because that was vintage jack nicholson, but the way she responded. >> that's the way you and i would react. she's a movie star. >> stars watching stars get starstruck is cool. >> lots of people named ben affleck's speech as a great moment. ruth said, he said his acceptance speech so fast he was afraid they were going to take it away. >> another favorite moment, barbra streisand, singing "memories." she's a legend in her own right,

in the music industry and the big screen. >> and the most got high marks from "world news now" nation. angela said seth macfarlane was one of the best hosts that made me watch the entire show. and of course, robin roberts on the red carpet. >> i thought seth -- every host gets grilled. but i thought it was decent. >> i think he's getting grilled by everybody because it was a good balance. he gave us a little bit of ricky gervais, which is what everybody wanted. then he gave us a little bit of billy crystal. a little bit of everything. >> i don't think anybody knew he was that multitalented. so it was good. >> i wanted voices. that's what i wanted. >> his impersonations? >> we got nothing. >> not a bad show. ratings were up. >> that's all that matters. >> congrats to all the winners. >> absolutely.

now," february's fury. the late winter blast with blizzard-like conditions, powerful winds and deadly force. >> the record snowfall expected in texas as highways shut down and force snowplow drivers off duty. it's tuesday, february 26th. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good tuesday morn, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> welcome back. >> thank you. good to be back after -- i had my best over the weekend, some stomach issues. but i'm back to my regular self. >> regular oversharing self. and i'm diana perez. after slamming texas, that

snowstorm is blowing towards chicago this morning and accuweather has our update on everything that's happening out there. also this morning, the mystery off of california's coast. the coast guard is looking for an entire family who radioed a distress call saying they were forced off of their sailboat into the ocean. then too new orleans where bp is son trial for the historic oil spill and rig explosion nearly three years ago. what's at stake for the oil giant as protesters show up at court. a huge, huge case down there, billions of dollars. >> it's about time it hit the courtrooms. later on this half hour, saving a bundle on prescriptions. the best places to buy your medicine and how you can even negotiate, yes, we said negotiate for a better deal. this is information that a lot of people are going to want to hear. >> it's surprising how many things are negotiable. prescriptions, call the cell phone company. i'm leaving you. oh, we have this new deal, mr. nelson. >> please come back.

that's all it is these days. >> just don't leave me, baby. that blizzard roaring across the middle of the country, the storm's intensity is caught by this 15-hour time lapse video from amarillo, texas. that town took a direct hit, getting 19 inches of snow and hurricane-force winds. >> watches and warnings are posted in 19 states from oklahoma to maine. and our coverage begins with the dangerous conditions. >> reporter: the punishing blizzard packed hurricane-force winds, piled up drifts three to five feet and trapped drivers inside their cold cars from eastern texas into oklahoma. the epic blizzard even blind sided snowplow drivers. >> the wind just blowing that snow back and forth makes it twice as hard as just trying to drive through it. >> reporter: only the most daring went outside, like this man in amarillo, texas. >> going to see what it's like so far.

>> reporter: the whiteout is causing accidents and sending road crews into hyper drive. and it isn't over yet by a long shot. wednesday, the storm roars further into the northeast, dumping more snow and ice in places like new hampshire, which already has a foot of snow on the ground. >> this is crazy. i don't like the winter. >> reporter: others do, like this colorado man who couldn't wait to put on his snowshoes. >> been waiting for this all year. >> reporter: he's not the only one taking advantage of the snow. meet eden grace, she's only 23 months old and already showing off her impressive snowboarding skills. >> we wake up at 5:30 and get her out of bed. as soon as we mention snow, she's all excited about it and snows that she's going to the mountains. >> snow is fun if you don't have to go out in it, work in it, drive in it. if you're just skiing, have at it. >> just stay off the roads. the storm the moving on, but

losing intensity as it blows into the northeast. >> our coverage continues at accuweather where meteorologist jim dicky is standing by with more. good morning, jim. >> good morning. still tracking our snowstorm here. also putting down substantial rainfall into the lower mississippi valley. not going to see the blizzard conditions we saw in the plains on monday. all the same, significant snowfall continuing, especially kansas city here through the morning. certainly some blinding snow out there, substantial accumulations by the time this comes to an end. most of this has already fallen, but kansas city likely over a foot by the time the snow ends into the afternoon, with 3 to 6 inches into chicago and tracking forward, snow moves towards the northeast, looking for 3 to 6 inches in syracuse and detroit. rob and diana, back to you. >> jim dicky at accuweather, thank you. searchers are working off the coast of california looking

for a missing family. the coast guard says a husband, wife and two young children sent a series of distress calls sunday afternoon saying their boat was taking on water and the electronics were failing. and then they sent another message that they were abandoning their 29-foot boat. >> they had a cooler and a life ring on board and they were trying to make that into a life raft. we don't know if they were able to successfully do that. >> water temperatures off the coast of monterey are typically in the 40s and 50s, making long-term survival nearly impossible. prosecutors in italy asked that manslaughter charges be brought against the captain of the "costa concordia" cruise ship. 32 people, including two americans, died. lawyers for the captain say their client looks forward to defending himself against false accusations. bp is being accused of putting profits before people and safety as it faces off with

federal and state prosecutors in new orleans. on day one of its high stax trial, the oil giant acknowledges making mistakes, but bp representatives denied any gross negligence in the gulf oil spill occurred. bp could be forced to pay billions of dollars more in damages. >> certainly i was working actively during the entire spill, saw a lot of dead and dying birds, a lot of destruction of habitat. this is a living disaster. >> bp says the owner of the drilling rig and the contractor involved in cementing the well are also to blame. a possible sentlement calling for $16 billion from bp is still being considered. >> obviously the first phase of the trial is expected to last about three months and that there determine was there gross negligence by the company. obviously $16 billion would be a huge amount, but miles to go

before that kind of money is son the table. >> just going back, if we remember, this cost 11 workers their lives, and there were 172 million gallons of crude oil dumped into the gulf. >> the most famous thing of that incident was that underwater video where it kept gushing for weeks and there was some misrepresentation how much oil was spilled. i lived in new orleans during that time right before i came here. so it was a huge mess. hopefully the court will take some action. in other news this morning, federal investigators are booking into safety problems and nearly 750,000 cars sold by ford. investigators are looking into stalling or surging engines in the ford fusion and escape, and mariner. 725,000 cars from the 2009 through 2011 model years are involved in this. the investigation follows 1500 complaints and could lead to a recall.

the nation's top pediatrician questions punishment for schoolchildren. the journal says disciplinary actions such as suspensions and expulsions are counterproductive. students who face such punishments are ten times more likely to drop out of school, leading to even more behavior problems. pediatricians are urged to start screening for behavior issues earlier and then to intervene. >> what some school district also do, if you get suspended, they'll set up special schools for those kids to go to. but then some people argue, you put those kids together and they feed off of each other and that doesn't necessarily solve the problem. but what's better, that or saying get out and they drop out eventually? so i don't know what the right answer is. >> i think what the pediatrician is trying to say is keep them with you, teach them that was wrong and move on from there as

opposed to kicking them out, whether it's out of school completely or these -- >> alternative campuses. >> that's also not such a good idea. how would you like to arrive home and see these three digging in? these three as in a mother bear and her two cubs. >> they were caught on camera with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar. the late-night snack took place near pasadena, california. >> whoever cleaned it up better hope the bears headed back into the mountains after the meal ended. i would be in the house for day it is i saw that. but that's just me. >> i've always admired people that see things like that and have the wherewithal to grab

their camera. >> it's our cell phone youtube culture. >> then we put it on television. so who is to blame? >> the cycle, yu're right. coming up next, the atm that dispenses free money but of course, comes with a little catch. we'll tell you about that. the big demand for powerful bodyguards in hollywood. do you have what it takes to protect a celebrity. you'll find out. you're watching "world news now." [ male announcer ] eligible for medicare? that's a good thing, but it doesn't cover everything. only about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. so consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans,

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♪ a little pink on a tuesday morning. i like it. >> nice. prescription drugs are a part of life for many people. and for those with more serious medical needs, paying for those pills can get expensive. >> very. so enter the age of comparison shopping. a little effort and smartphone could add up to major savings. abc's paula faris has more. >> reporter: kerry and andrew from lake worth, florida are living on the edge. is this something that could ruin you financially? >> absolutely.

we're worried about losing our home. >> reporter: like so many american families, they need and pay for several prescriptions every month, like blood pressure medicine, and kerry has crohn's disease. then their worst nightmare. their insurance company told them they won't cover all of it. now they're facing a $20,000 bill every month. are you guys afraid right now? >> yes. >> reporter: so we brought in michelle katz. tip one, check your bill like at a restaurant. believe it or not, there are codes for your drugs and often they get them wrong. we found one of those, fixed it and saved them $1,200. tip two, arm yourself with this app called low rx. here's why. did you know drug prices fluctuate like gas prices? different pharmacies can charge different prices for the same drug. the app tells you the average price for your drugs and arms

you with the address and phone number of every pharmacy in your area. we found one of her drugs $100 cheaper at costco. tip three, even if you eastern not a member, you can still fill prescriptions at the big wholesalers. if i'm not a nonmember, i still have my prescription filled here? >> yes. >> reporter: know ne-- are you ready to negotiate? >> ax luteally. >> reporter: if i bring in cash, is there more bargaining power? when we comes back, a deal. >> $12. >> reporter: because she paid cash, it went from $30 to $12. >> correct. >> reporter: and tip five, you can go directly to the big drug companies. she gave proof of the family's finances, saying they may have to stop buying their drug all together.

what was going to cost them $17,000 a month will now cost $. i see a tear. >> that's a big burden. >> now i'm starting to cry. >> reporter: did you think this would be possible? >> no. >> reporter: paula faris, abc news, new york. >> you know, there are families like that, that are living in the shadows. almost 50% of americans are on some kind of prescription drug and need this information. some people need drugs to live their day-to-day lives. >> you can tell a difference it made in that family's life. top telling drugs, nexium, abill fie and crestor. drugs in this country, a $310 billion industry. we're talking about mega money. >> by the way, a lot of those

brought on by stress. oh, sure. the first one for heartburn, the one for bipolar, and even cholesterol. we run a ragged life. >> we need to learn to chill out more. just read that. i'm going to chill. still to come, the muscle bound men who hang out with hollywood stars. why even b-listers need bodyguards these days. >> i'm just chilling. keep on reading. nice work. >> thank you very much. you're watching "world news now."

hollywood stars live in the spotlight. very few places are off-limits for friends and paparazzi, and that makes safety a big concern for them. >> so bodyguards of course are big business in tinseltown.

abc's clayton sandell finds out what it's all about. >> reporter: from lindsay lohan to justin bieber, to rihanna in london. that's where kent moyer and his group of 2200 agents come in. personal protection is a huge business. demand is going up? >> yes, absolutely. >> reporter: why? >> we're in a dangerous time and i think people are a little more concerned about the security. >> reporter: that protection does not come cheap. >> it could be from $250 to $1.50 million a year, depending on the individual client. >> reporter: the danger is so real, the lapd created a unit to handle stalkers making threats against stars like paula abdul.

>> reporter: he teaches secret service style tactics and celebrity protection. they learn to deal with stalkers, crowd control and how to make a quick escape. >> go, go. >> reporter: occasionally, celebrities get very close to their bodyguards. the relationship turns hot and heavy. heidi clum admitted sparking a romance with her bodyguard. >> he's been with our family for four years. he's cared for our entire family, mostly for our four children. >> reporter: tv cameras caught kim kardashian and her former bodyguard in a lip lock. sometimes the relationship goes bad. justin bieber is being sued by a former bodyguard. britney, too. as a status symbol, a bodyguard says you're arrived. clayson sandell in los angeles. >> you got the chops? >> to be a bodyguard? >> yeah. >> i'm not big enough. >> look at you.

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the resolve easy clean system. don't just vacuum clean. resolve clean. ♪ welcome back, everybody. time for "the mix." vef an interesting "mix." and it starts with a great story. there's apparently atms that have been set up around the world in several different countries and cities around the world. all you have to do is go up to the atm and there's a simple message on the screen. it says get 100 euros or the equivalent of $130 without a card. it says you can get $131 but there's a catch, you have to share it. so it will respond. if you say do you want the money, you say yes, but only if you agree to share it. it says do you need any suggestions where you want to give your money to? you can hire a store retailer

for the kids in your neighborhood, buy diapers for a pregnant woman. then the atm gives you the cash, free money. no obligation to actually do what you just agreed to do. but the good news is that there are people who actually went out and did it. the majority of the people who grabbed the money from the atm shared wit their fellow man. so there are good people in the world. >> this is in america or overseas? >> it's overseas. it hasn't happened in america yet. free money goes right into the pocket. >> there are angels everywhere. this is a cool story, too. there's this guy, a dutch entrepreneur who loves turning exotic, unusual places into hotels. he's done it with prisons, boats and now a plane. take a look at this. this plane, which used to belong to some leaders in -- east german leaders, has a jacuzzi, a

sauna, a bar, a luxury kitchen, a flat screen tv. this plane has been converted into a high-end hotel. kind of cool. >> i can dig that. if you were watching the academy awards yesterday, you saw one of the biggest moments of the night is when the first lady went on there and she was the one that announced best picture of the night. so we saw that she was wear thing dress, a beautiful dress. it was metallic and spaghetti strap and gorgeous. well, fast forward a day and the iranian national news agency posted this picture, and it's kind of tiny, but all of a sudden she grew sleeves and a higher neckline. now apparently it was edited better so it complies with the

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this morning on this morning on "world news now," relentless storm. the late february winter blitz that's blasting a huge area and dumping record snowfall on texas. >> the deadly consequences and the storm's impact on travelers far and wide. it is tuesday, february 26th. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm diana perez. some areas are getting a foot and a half of snow, and powerful winds. accuweather is tracking all of it. it just seems like every time we come on here, we're talking about another blizzard. >> those folks in the midwest have had a rough, rough last couple of weeks. one storm on top of another on top of another. so it's been rough.

>> i have to say one of my brothers lives out in missouri. and he -- a couple of years ago when we were getting lambasted by snow, he was out there going ha, ha. >> so you're saying it's karma for your kinfolk in missouri. >> i would hate to put all of that on you guys in missouri, but i'm just saying. you can blame derek perez, that's all i'm saying. also this morning, one man's anger with airline personnel recorded on security video for all of us to enjoy. see what happens when he misses a flight and hear about his tantrum and his very necessary apology. >> we have all wanted to strangle an airline employee at one point or another, if you travel enough. i'm not saying do it, i'm not saying go nuts like this dude -- but we've all had a moment where you know what? oh, wow, he got into it. this is the smallest bag of peanuts i've ever seen! >> you know you're angry when you are throwing pieces of paper at a glass wall.

>> take it easy. take it easy. later this half hour, enjoying scouting without being part of the traditional boy scouts or girl scouts. who is joining an alternative scouting troop and why? >> we don't want to give it away. it's a cute one. big news for michael jackson's immediate family. always big news from the jackson family. his teenage son is making another important move. and just wait until you hear what it's all about his sister just did. that's all coming up in "the skinny." >> we just had a guy on "entertainment tonight" doing his thing. jacksons are doing a lot of stuff. plus interesting news about janet coming out. so all kinds of jackson dirt this morning. so stick around. but first that blizzard. by the end of the day, the chicago and detroit areas are going to get some snow from all of it. thankfully for travelers stranded in denver's airport, things are finally getting back to normal.

>> dozens of flights at major mid western airports today have already been canceled. watches and warnings are posted in 19 states from oklahoma to maine. abc's meteorologist ginger zee begins our coverage. >> reporter: it's a textbook blizzard. smothering texas, oklahoma, kansas and missouri. look at this time lapse video. amarillo, disappearing in snow. >> see what it's like so far. here we go. >> reporter: amarillo had more than a foot and a half of snow, blown by gusts of up to 77 miles per hour. huge three to five-foot drifts covering roads and highways. schools and businesses were shut down. texas has called in the national guard to rescue people stranded on the roads. winds were whipping in south texas, too. brush fires sent flames into a home near san antonio, killing three people. in oklahoma, families trapped in their cars.

like bill thompson, his wife, daughter and two granddaughters stranded on highway 83. they called for help. >> i don't know how many days or hours we're going to be here, because they can't get to us. >> reporter: they were trapped for 3 1/2 anxious hours. back in kansas, which has barely recovered from last week's snow, is now getting it again. if you're looking for any snow on the east coast, a whole lot of you not going to get it. it will stay mostly rain. ginger zee, abc news, kansas. >> ginger loves her job. and she would have to. >> if you have to be out there as often as she does, god bless your soul. >> this late february winter blast is also hitting the pacific northwest this morning. >> winter storm warnings are up in the mountains outside of seattle where crews are doing what they can to prevent avalanches from burying the roads. our storm coverage continues with meteorologist jim dicky at accuweather. good morning, jim. >> good morning rob and diana. dealing with a wintery mess this morning in the midwest.

the blizzard conditions winding down, snow ending across the plains. heavy snow right now into kansas city, extending towards chicago. by the time all is said and done, 3 to 6 inches in the chicago area. most of this has already fallen and snow ends through here in the mo likely over a foot. then this snow extends into the northeast into wednesday. rob and diana, back to you. >> jim dicky, thank you. those fierce winds in texas led to a deadly fire near san antonio. a mother and her infant twins died when flames engulfed their homes. investigators say that the fire started in one home, spread to two others, then jumped across the street and bumped two more homes to the ground. president obama heads to virginia today where he'll outline the impact of the looming budget cuts. yesterday, the president met with the nation's governors asking them to pressure congress to do something. but louisiana governor bobby jindal is among top republicans

accusing the president of trying to scare americans. he said instead it's time for mr. obama to show leadership. >> congress should not allow these arbitrary, sequester cuts to go through and hurt our economy, slow our recovery. there's got to be a better way. >> now is the time to cut spending. it can be done without jeopardizing the economy and critical services. >> south carolina governor nikki haley took aim at democrats and republicans saying "no one should be playing golf, no one should be taking vacations until the issue is resolved." i think probably the whole country agrees with that. let's get something done here. because again, we've seen this. we had the fiscal cliff thing at the end of the year. another issue come may with the debt ceiling. and the republicans are saying mr. president, all you're doing is scaring people. it's not going to be as bad as it seems. so is this going that is going to happen and be that deeply impactful or is it more political showmanship? >> and speaking of showmanship, bobby jindal said this is a lack

of leadership. not only are you scaring them, but you need to stop campaigning, according to bobby jindal. he was saying this just a couple feet away from the oval office. and while he was saying that in the briefing room only 50 feet away, homeland security secretary janet napolitano was saying if these things actually happen, america will be less secure. it's the theater of politics and we are here to watch it and unfortunately have to deal with it. >> march 1 is friday. so we're just days away here. so i think the country as a whole is tired of the gridlock. this is going to be a crescendo point. everyone just shut up, get in a room, lock the door and don't come out until you get the big deal done. i think the frustration level is high. but from classrooms to hospitals to airports -- >> every aspect of our lives. >> could potentially be impacted. >> that's the key word, potentially. overseas now, and major new developments in efforts to end the civil war in syria. the government now says it's

prepared to negotiate with the rebels. but it's unclear whether the rebels would have to lay down their weapons before talks can begin. that's a key sticking point in the past. this morning, "the new york times" is reporting that saudi arabia has been secretly funneling weapons to the rebels allowing them to make gains against president assad. the inconclusive outcome of italy's national elections is causing political gridlock and shaking up some financial markets. with nearly all the results in, there is still no clear winner this morning. italy's center left coalition was holding a slim lead over former prime minister silvio berlusconi. more than a year after the debt crisis in that country forced him out of office. and that election deadlock sent asian markets went tumbling over new worries europe's debt problems could destabilize the global economy. it was a similar scene unfortunately on wall street. the dow opened for the day after a 200 point plunge. that's the biggest drop in more than three months. martha stewart is expected

to testify in a trial today. pitting some of the retail world's most powerful retail players. the case revolves around a deal she signed with jcpenney to sell her goods there. macy is suing both, claiming that deal violates the agreement that macy's had with stewart to be stewart's exclusive seller. first off, we want to say this, if you enjoy ikea meatball in the u.s., they're just fine. but in europe, ikea meatballs have been pulled now that horse meat has been found in frozen foods where they were supposed to contain beef or pork, not horse meat. >> that story is hard to -- i'm not laughing. >> we're not laughing at the horse meat.

we're just laughing at the horse meat. >> i didn't know ikea sold meatball. i just thought they sold furniture. >> the top floor, they have a cafeteria. they're actually delicious. >> you learn something every day. i had no idea. got to get to ikea. all right. here is the guy so many of us have wanted to be when things don't go right at the airport. this all happened in china. just keep an eye on the guy at the check-in desk. he actually is a high level government official, by the way. >> after he and his family missed their flight twice, he goes simply bananas. he takes out his frustration on the computer. he tries to break through the door with a sign, a paper sign at that by the way. >> this dude is pretty irritated. not a good day. he has since issued an apology,

calling his actions irrational and rude. why did he say that? and he said he will pay for the damages that he caused. come on, we've all had a moment like that at the airport, the grocery store, in traffic. we all have a breaking point, and he clearly hit his. >> i just want to share this with everybody, because this is important information. we've all had breaking points and we've all been there mentally. we've never -- well, maybe somebody has. you've never done that. >> thought about it. >> thought about about it in our brain, in our mind, never went that far. but this is what you need to know about this guy. here are the reasons he missed those two flights. the first reason he missed the flight is because the family was having a long breakfast. hold on, there's more. so they were rebooked into a second flight and they missed that one because they didn't hear the boarding call. >> so it's kind of his fault. that changes the whole story. >> a little bit. just a little bit. >> go to ikea and get some meatballs and chill out. relax. coming up, major career

and personal development involving michael jackson's immediate family. and dietary research that surprised even the most experienced doctors. the foods that are best for those keeping heart healthy. you're watching "world news now." tossing and turning have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta®(eszopiclone) can help you get there. like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. lunesta should not be taken together with alcohol. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations, or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions such as tongue or throat swelling occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste,

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she pretty much lives in her favorite princess dress. and she's not exactly tidy. even if she gets a stain she'll wear it for a week straight. so i use tide to get out those week old stains and downy to get it fresh and soft. since i'm the one who has to do the laundry. i do what any expert dad would do. i let her play sheriff. i got 20 minutes to life. you are free to go. [ dad ] tide and downy. great on their own, even better together.

keeping your heart healthy can actually be pretty delicious. a new study shows that a diet rich in olive oil, fish, nuts, and even wine can cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. >> thank god for wine.

what was the most amazing thing is researchers ended it early because the results were that clear. more now from abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: serving up a diet that's not only delicious -- >> perfect. >> reporter: but could be life saving. a new study published in "the new england journal of medicine" shows that eating a mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart related deaths by 30%. the study followed nearly 7,500 people in spain, all considered high risk for cardiovascular problems. half were told to eat a low fat diet. the other half followed a mediterranean diet, rich in nuts, olive oil, fruits and vegetables. it was even remitted that those who drink alcohol consume seven glasses of wine a week. not everyone agrees with the findings. doctors point out that olive oil and nuts are only good in moderation, since both can be fattening. portion control is key. the subjects in the study did

not lose weight but found benefits nonetheless. with diners saying this is a diet they could easily follow -- >> i guess because it's delicious, i love it. and i would love to be eating healthy food, why not? >> reporter: many doctors believe the mediterranean diet mixed with moderate exercise could create the perfect recipe for a healthy heart. marci gonzalez, abc news, new york. >> all right. go get those nuts. "the skinny" is next. .

♪ skinny, so skinny time now for "the skinny." we have a half of jackson family edition "skinny" for you today. >> i miss willis. he's no longer with us. he didn't die. he's with us. but he's off the show. willis is here, but missed "the skinny." we're thinking about you big man. he'll be back. >> michael jackson's son has -- is going to make an acting debut. so we heard he's now a correspondent for "entertainment tonight." now he's also an actor apparently. so he's making his debut on "90210." it's a teen drama on cw. it's the finale. he's going to play a trauma victim named cooper who connects

with the main character named silver. so cool. >> he's a member of the jackson family. i don't think he has to act his way through being a trauma victim. he's been through a lot. >> yes, yes. well put. >> speaking of the jackson family, guess who is married? another one of my ex-girlfriends. janet jackson confirmed to "e.t." >> "entertainment tonight," isn't that where her little brother works? >> you're so skeptical about tv people. this dude is a billionaire businessman. billionaire businessman. they confirmed the marriage only to "e.t." they say the rumors regarding a wedding are not true. last year, we were married in a quite, private ceremony. last year, so they've been keeping this on the dl for a while. this is the second time she's gotten married quietly. they were married for years and she did it again. so congratulations. looking good as always, miss

jackson. moving on now to somebody that we have talked a lot about, tiger woods. he has been spotted with his ex. this is going to happen in the world of people who have exes, obviously. but this is interesting because of the way they broke up and because he's tiger woods. any way, they were spotted in jupiter, florida at a youth sports organization. so they were there for the kids. tiger arrived first with his son and daughter, and she arrived about an hour later. they chatted for half an hour and they both left in her car. >> so for the good of the kid, mom and dad get together. just because the marriage is over, you're still mom and dad. so great to see that. so good for them. also congrats to the folks who produced the oscars. they did well. the telecast sunday night was seen by 40.3 million people, a slight increase over last year's show. the most watched oscars telecast in three years.

so congrats to them. did well. i think because there was genuine suspense, which was good. >> it's just one more person that watches our show. >> and watch "gma" today because they're going to talk about the new lineup for "dancing with the stars." they're going to talk about the new lineup for "dancing with the stars."

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add finish power up. wow! see the difference! it's a must have! have given way to sleeping. tossing and turning where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta®(eszopiclone) can help you get there. like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. lunesta should not be taken together with alcohol. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations, or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions such as tongue or throat swelling occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness, and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as fifteen dollars at lunesta.com.

there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta. ♪ always good. my favorite live band, dave matthews band. we know you have a lot to say, and a lot to ask. >> and that's why this morning we're asking you to ask us anything at all. the "world news now" in box is officially wide open. so logon to our facebook page at wnnfans.com and post your questions for us. >> make sure you post it under the in box logo and we'll answer

a few on the air tomorrow. we've got a lot of questions so far. >> ask us anything. >> yeah, bring it on. >> we're an open book. >> be careful what you ask for. >> we're going to only answer the really good ones. >> there we go. for months, the boy scouts of america has been debating whether to allow gay members into its ranks. >> there's been no decision, but a scott troop in oregon has taken matters into its own hands. >> reporter: you only need to tell a 7th grader one reason to ditch the boy scouts and instead join the new alternative, the cascadia scouts. >> boy scouts don't get the good knives. they get the ones that are boy scout moves. >> reporter: he gets a leatherman, his favorite part of the new look for the group he and his dad helped create. you're the only one here wearing the new uniform. >> yes. i wasn't too big on tucking my shirt in, though. >> reporter: maybe the shirt isn't so portland, but the idea is.

what's wrong with the regular boy scouts? >> i just think because they're kind of restrictive. there's a lot of things you can't do there. >> reporter: but here you can. boys and girl go camping and take outdoor trips together. nobody cares whether you're gay or not religious, and at least a few dozen families like that approach. his dad, travis, helped come up with the plan to put a progressive portland spin on a very old institution. >> we wanted to create something that was a little bit more along our family philosophy, our kind of a portlandy version of what scouting would be. >> reporter: boy scouts in portland. everything takes a little different spin when you try to portlandize it. he's just got to talk to his son about the whole shirt thing. >> he's taking a good stance there. i want to do my open thing and so branch out into your own organization. more power to him. >> and cute outfits. >> that is the news for this half hour. don't miss our updates on facebook at wnnfans.com.

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